Boston Celtics forward Sasha Pavlovic dishes the ball after driving against Miami Heat forward James Jones (22), guard Mario Chalmers (15) and center Dexter Pittman (45) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. The Celtics won 78-66. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
/ AP

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) drives as Miami Heat forward Shane Battier (31) tries to stay with him on defense during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)— AP

From left, Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joke around on the bench during the first minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)— AP

From left, Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh joke around on the bench during the first minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
/ AP

BOSTON 
With much more to lose in potential injuries than gain with another victory, the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat let their reserves decide the second-to-last game of the regular season.

Rest and recovery were of much greater importance as both teams looked ahead to the postseason and patched together lineups that hardly resembled last year's second-round playoff series.

The result was sloppy at times, but turned into a relatively even matchup before the seldom-used Celtics rallied for a 78-66 win over the starless Heat on Tuesday night.

Sasha Pavlovic led Boston with a season-high 16 points, scoring 12 in the fourth quarter as the Celtics pulled away by shooting 50 percent (11 for 22) in the period and forcing Miami into eight of its season-high 25 turnovers.

"Well, someone had to win the game and we did, which was really nice," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "You know, these games are still important, probably for both teams."

But not important enough to risk anybody's playoff status.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were out for the Heat. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo didn't play for the Celtics.

Rivers said Rondo and Garnett should be back in the lineup on Thursday when Boston hosts Milwaukee in the final game of the regular season. By rallying for a win Tuesday, the Celtics - locked into the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference as a division winner - can still get home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta with another victory on Thursday and a loss by Hawks. Atlanta heads into the season finale with a one-game lead but Boston won the season series.

The Celtics would prefer to open the playoffs on the road with a healthy lineup than be back at home with Rondo (back), Garnett (hip flexor) or Allen (bone spurs) still hobbled by injuries.

"We'll see," Rivers said. "It would be nice to put some more pressure and force Atlanta to have to win."

Anyone who bought a ticket to this game months ago, anticipating an Eastern Conference showdown was disappointed. Instead, it was the Heat JV taking on the Celtics Lite.

Bosh didn't dress again because of a left hamstring strain. James and Wade were still in warmups and didn't come to the bench until after the starting lineups were announced and although they were listed as active, they never entered the game.

Instead of trying to catch Chicago for the top seed in the East, the Heat are now locked in at No. 2.

"We wanted to make sure going into the last week with a quick turnaround that we were ready for this weekend," Miami coach Eric Spoelstra said. "We had legitimate injuries. We weren't just sitting guys."

Dexter Pittman had 12 points, James Jones scored 11 and Udonis Haslem grabbed 13 rebounds for the Heat, whose 25 turnovers were a season high. Miami failed to score 20 in any quarter and had just 16 in each of the final two periods.